MATAWHERO CUT: SETTLER’S HOME SITE INVOLVED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22820, 15 December 1948, Page 10

MATAWHERO CUT: SETTLER’S HOME SITE INVOLVED

When the P.B. Catchment Board dealt recently with the difficulties of a Matawhero land-owner whose home building plans were likely to clash with a scheme of flood-control measures in that vicinity, it was stated Fiat the land held by the settler would be involved in a plan for establishing a pilot cut to facilitate the discharge of flood waters from the Waipaoa river. At .yesterday’s meeting of the board the settler's solicitors, in a letter on the same subject indicated that he now realised that it wouid be Inadvisable for him to proceed with plans for building on the site. The letter asked that the board endeavour to expedite preparation of its scheme so that a definite indication could be given, to the settler as to the board’s future intentions.

Compensation Method

An additional point raised by the solicitors was the desirability from the point of view of their client, of having any compensation claim satisfied by an exchange of land rather than on a cash basis, as the settler hoped to carry out his own plans in that locality. The board noted the contents of the letter for attention when the Matawhero flood-control scheme is further advanced. . ... Flood-control measures m the Matawhero and adjoining localities was the subject of an interim report from the board’s engineer, Mr. A. D. Todd, who stated that the design of pilot cuts at Matawhero and Tietjen’s Bend had been completed and investigation made into flood magnitudes and frequences. Cross-sections had been plotted from the mouth of the Waipaoa River to a point 28 miles up-river, said Mr. Todd, and topographical survey work for the establishment of stop-banks was well in hand. Calculation of flood grades was keeping pace with the field work and data for a comprehensive report was being prepared for submission to the February meeting of the board. All staff members engaged in the work had been on duty from 10 to 12 hours daily, Mr Todd stated.